Sequential Ellison: News

Since someone was nice enough to send me a press release, I thought I would pass along information on an upcoming Harlan Ellison appearance and screening of the Ellison documentary Dreams With Sharp Teeth.

Thursday, August 9 – 7:30 PM
An Evening with Harlan Ellison (Screening of a work in progress.):
DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH, 2007, 95 min. Harlan Ellison may be the greatest “unknown” writer of our times. Like Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut, Ellison’s work was originally shunted into the literary ghetto of “sci-fi,” but Ellison and his work now defines his own genre, which is as unique as its creator. Twenty-five years in the making, DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH is a literary documentary that brings Harlan Ellison, his magnetic personality and amazing work to life, with appearances from Robin Williams and author Neil Gaiman. Directed by the producer of GRIZZLY MAN, Erik Nelson, it features an original score composed and performed by Richard Thompson.

Discussion following with author Harlan Ellison, moderated by director Erik Nelson.

Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
www.AmericanCinematheque.com

Be sure to check it out if you are in the area. I’d be there if I was.

To promote the release of Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor Vol. 2, comic book news web site Newsarama.com featured a three part interview with Ellison back in late May. Covering a variety of topics, including Dream Corridor and comics in general, the upcoming documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth, and more. HE sort of takes over the interview shortly after it starts, but it is still an interesting recent discussion about Ellison’s thoughts on comic books. You can read the whole interview, starting with part one, at www.newsarama.com/general/Ellison/interview_p1.html

Two comic book publishers have recently announced they will be printing some “books” by Harlan Ellison. Not comic book adaptations, but actual text only books.

This month Dark Horse Comics, publishers of Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor, solicited a new edition of Harlan Ellison’s Watching through their Dark Horse Books imprint. Dark Horse Books also released a new edition of the novel Spider Kiss earlier this year. The new edition of Watching, scheduled for release November 14th, will feature a new introduction by film critic Leonard Maltin. $12.95, 248 pages, 6″x9″ tradepaperback.

Then, scheduled for early 2008, publisher IDW is planning a new Ellison collection entitled Yr. Pal, Harlan. Yr. Pal, Harlan will collect “more than a decade of the Grand Master’s selected digital letters and postings from Ellison Webderland (www.harlanellison.com), Ellison’s official home on the Internet.” IDW has made a name for itself with a selection of licensed books (such as Transformers and Star Trek, horror titles (such as the vampire hit 30 Days of Night), and reprints of classic 1980s independent series (like Grimjack and Jon Sable). Clifford Meth, publisher of Strange Kaddish, is IDW’s Executive Vice-President of Editorial. For more information on this book, check out the press release here.

It appears that the most recent dispute between Harlan Ellison and comics publisher Fantagraphics Books has come to a successful resolution. While no details have been released at this time, and both parties will release details at some point in the future, both parties released statments that read “THE LITIGATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES HAS BEEN RESOLVED.”

At some point I may gather together information on the about this recent lawsuit and ad it to an updated Harlan Ellison & Fantagraphics Books essay on the Bibliography site, for now please enjoy these links from the very well done news site The Comics Reporter. I felt that they did a good job of reporting on this process in an impartial manner (although I know that Mr. Ellison disagreed, as seen in the Feb. 16th link below). There can be argued to be a conflict of interests, as Comics Reporter editor Tom Spurgeon did edit the book that is one of the items at the center of the dispute, but the links below are provided to allow some timeline of events:

• Dispute Between Harlan Ellison and Fantagraphics Resolved In Mediation (June 29, 2007
• Ellison Vs. Fantagraphics To Mediation (May 15, 2007)
• Fantagraphics Intends to Appeal Anti-Slapp Motion Decision in Ellison Case (Feb 27, 2007)
• Harlan Ellison on the Ellison/FBI Case and CR’s Coverage of Same (Feb 16, 2007)
• Yet More On Monday’s FBI/Ellison Ruling (Feb 14, 2007)
  
• More On Monday’s Ellison/FBI Ruling (Feb 13, 2007)
  
• Motion To Dismiss Harlan Ellison Lawsuit Against Fantagraphics Has Been Denied (Feb 12, 2007)
• Latest Fantagraphics Reply To Ellison (Dec 29, 2006)
  
• Ellison’s Response To FBI Anti-SLAPP Motion (Dec 20, 2006)
• Fantagraphics Files Motion To Strike Harlan Ellison Suit On Multiple Grounds (Nov 17, 2006)
• Ellison V. Fantagraphics Changes Courts (Oct 26, 2007)
  
• Fantagraphics Responds To Ellison Suit (Oct 20, 2006)
  

Well, the new Web 2.0 version of Sequential Ellison is limping it’s way to active status. Click on the “Bibliography” link in the menu at the top of this page to go to www.sequentialellison.com/bibliography/ see the new version of the Bibliography using WordPress blog software. So far, 90% of the content for the “Original Stories” and “Adaptations” categories is live. The main page lists book titles, story titles, and basic creative credits. Clicking on the “Continue Reading” link takes you to fuller entries on each book. By using the Blog database users can sort and search the list.

Soon the content from the “Homages, Rip-Offs, Parodies, and Cameos” sections of the Bibliography will be added into this main list. Then seperate pages will be added for Illustrated, Introductions, Letters, Other Non-Fiction, Interviews, and Unproduced Work will be added, as well as themed essays concerning topics like the Fantagraphics Books lawsuit.

This blog, at www.sequentialellison.com, will be the home to all Harlan Ellison comic book related news. Hopefully, the Blog format will mean that I will be able to quickly add links to online interviews, any future editions of existing work, or even, but doubtful, any new comics related work. I am also going to experiment with adding archival news items, to make it easier to find out information on everything that happened in Ellison-related comics in the 5 years since I last updated this site.

Come back soon!

A little more patience is all I ask. It’s been at least 4 years since I last updated Sequential Ellison and after changing jobs and moving half-way across the country, I am finally about ready to release the new Web 2.0 version of the site. There will be two sections: this blog which will cover news and additions to the bibliography; and the actual Bibliography which will also utilize WordPress blog technology to manage the content and allow quick updates, and even user comments.

So, keep checking back. I’m actually amazed that I still see people finding their way to my broken, out of date pages.